Desperate Grant turns to Dyer in battle to avoid the drop as Hammers reject Ipswich request to keep on-loan midfielder

Premier League strugglers West Ham have refused Ipswich permission to retain on-loan midfielder Kieron Dyer until the end of the season.

Former England star Dyer, 32, returned in March to the club where he launched his career and his one-month deal expired after Saturday’s 2-1 home win over Crystal Palace, in which he was a late substitute.

Return: West Ham have deneid Ipswich permission to keep Kieron Dyer on loan for the rest of the season

Ipswich boss Paul Jewell said: ‘I spoke to West Ham manager Avram Grant and asked if he would allow Kieron to stay with us.

‘But he said that in view of his own club’s current situation he would prefer to have Kieron back at Upton Park to help their relegation fight, which I fully understand.’

Dyer’s injury woes, which have blighted his time with the Hammers, flared up again at Portman Road as he only started one game and came off the bench in three others.

Desperate: West Ham boss Avram Grant is running out of time to save the Premier League strugglers

He joined West Ham in a £6million deal from Newcastle in August 2007 and suffered a double leg fracture in only his third appearance.

That setback, together with other injury problems, has restricted him to just 17 senior starts in his time with the Hammers and his contract is due to expire in the summer.